BOO!

Guilford Art Center presents “SAQA Transformations 09: Reflections”

Studio Art Quilt Associates presents their newest juried exhibition: 34 quilts from around the world, exploring the theme of reflection.

Juried by Laura Cater-Woods

Opening Reception: Friday, November 13th from 5:00 – 8:00pm

Guilford Art Center 411 Church Street / Guilford, CT 06437 / (203) 453-5947

(image: Art quilts by Shelly Brucar, Leslie Carabas and Marie Jensen)

Running Concurrently at the Guilford Art Center: ARTISTRY, an Annual Holiday Sale of Fine Craft & Art.  Check out the work of more than 150 American artists, many from Connecticut and the shoreline area.

Stay tuned!  Many exciting events are planned throughout the months of November and December, as Guilford celebrates Fiber Art for the Holidays.

Don’t Miss Out on these Fiber Art Events

This Weekend: Society of Creative Arts of Newtown (SCAN) Fall Art Show & Sale (Newtown, CT)

Jennifer O'Brien is one of the few fiber artists in SCAN’s Fall Art Show & Sale this weekend, October 23rd – 25th in Newtown, CT.   SCAN is located at the Newtown Meeting House, Main Street at the Flag Pole, Newtown CT 06470.  

The show will be on display from 10:00am – 5:00pm each day.

 

Entry Deadline is November 1st for the 3rd Annual Fiber at the Garde (New London, CT)

 

 

 

This year’s Fiber at the Garde is entitled “Standing Ovation”. 

Exhibition runs from December 1, 2009 - February 28, 2010 
The Garde Arts Center
325 State Street
New London CT
860 625 5951
www.gardearts.org
The exhibition can be viewed during box office hours and before and after all theater performances.
Open to all New England/New York residents. The theme is performance art: The art quilt may be generic to the areas of music, theater and dance or specific to a particular performer or production.  Contact Linda Sexton-Patrick for an entry form: apricotlion@ct.metrocast.net.  

 

Art Quilts XIV: Significant Stitching at the Chandler Art Center (Chandler, AZ)

Norma Schlager’s “No Elephants Here” has been accepted into Art Quilts XIV: Significant Stitching at the Chandler Art Center in Chandler, Arizona.  The show runs from November 2nd – January 2nd.  Exhibition Hall Hours are Monday-Friday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm / Saturdays: Noon - 5:00 pm.  Admission is Free

Chandler Center for the Arts
250 North Arizona Avenue
Chandler, AZ 85225
info@chandlercenter.org

Pacific International Quilt Festival Begins Today

Pacific International Quilt Festival returns to Santa Clara, CA with a spectacular collection of over 800 quilts and works of wearable and textile art. This is the largest quilt show on the west coast, known to quilters as PIQF, held at the Santa Clara Convention Center in the greater San Francisco Bay Area.   The show runs from October 15th – 18th, 2009.

Barbara Barrick McKie has two quilts on display at PIQF, “My New Buddy” and “Iguana Headache”.   Congratulations!

 

This weekend is also the opening of the International Quilt Festival in Houston, Texas

Barbara McKie’s beautiful art quilt “Eye to Eye” has earned a Second Place ribbon in the Digital Imagery category at the International Quilt Festival (IQF) exhibition in Houston, Texas.  Her quilt “Who Me?” was a category finalist.  Barb will have a total of 10 pieces on display, including artwork in the IQF special exhibits “SAQA@20”, “Eye of the Quilter”, “Celebrate Spring!” and “In Full Bloom”.

Karen Eckmeier will be teaching a class during the festival, and has earned a Second Place ribbon in the Innovative Pieced category for “My Stash at 50 (aka Log Cabin with an Attitude)”.  Karen also has a piece that will be displayed in the special exhibit, “Making Memories”.  This exhibit is being sponsored by a foundation for terminally ill women with breast cancer. All quilts in this special exhibit are made from donated bridal wedding gowns and will be sold to raise money for the foundation. 

Margaret Phillips’ art quilt portrait, Uncle Mike (shown here, lower left) will  also be on display at the festival.

Norma Schlager’s Fiesta is part of the IQF exhibit “World of Beauty”.

One of Gail Kotowski’s photos was chosen for “Eye of the Quilter: Inspiration”.  This special exhibit features photographs that quilters have used for inspiration in their work.  See some of the photos in IQF’s Eye of the Beholder

Congratulations to all the exhibitors!

Preview night at the International Quilt Festival is October 14th.  The official IQF Festival runs from October 16th – 18th, 2009.

Click here to see all the award winning quilts at IQF

SAQA CT Members Featured in “500 Art Quilts” on Bookshelves March 2010

 Several SAQA artists, including SAQA-Connecticut members Liz Alpert Fay, Margaret Phillips and Barbara Barrick McKie are featured in “500 Art Quilts: An Inspiring Collection of Contemporary Work”. 

Lark Book’s 500 series (including subject like Handmade Books, Baskets, Beaded Objects and Ceramic Sculptures) is a celebration of art and fine craft. 

The art work in 500 Art quilts is presented with beautiful full color images, juried by Karey Bresenhan.   The 8x8 paperback book comes out in March 2010.

Published by Lark Books

Upcoming Events: Fiber Art by CT members on Display

OPENING SOON:

 

International Quilt Festival – (Houston, TX)

Barbara McKie’s beautiful art quilt “Eye to Eye” (shown here, upper left) has won a category prize at the International Quilt Festival (IQF) exhibition in Houston, Texas.  Her quilt “Who Me?” was a category finalist.  Barb will have a total of 10 pieces on display, including artwork in the IQF special exhibits “SAQA@20”, “Eye of the Quilter”, “Celebrate Spring!” and “In Full Bloom”.

Karen Eckmeier will be teaching a class during the festival, and has also been notified that one of her quilts is a ribbon winner (she has two that will be exhibited) – but we won’t know which one until October!  Karen also has a piece that will be displayed in the special exhibit, “Making Memories”.  This exhibit is being sponsored by a foundation for terminally ill women with breast cancer. All quilts in this special exhibit are made from donated bridal wedding gowns and will be sold to raise money for the foundation. 

Margaret Phillips’ art quilt portrait, Uncle Mike (shown here, lower left) will  also be on display at the festival.

Norma Schlager’s Fiesta is part of the IQF exhibit “World of Beauty”.

Preview night at the International Quilt Festival is October 14th.  The official IQF Festival runs from October 16th – 18th, 2009.

Click here for more information on this show. / Purchase advance tickets HERE

Congratulations to all the IQF participants!  

 

Harvest of Quilts at East Haven High School (East Haven, CT)

SAQA CT members Gail Kotowski and Linda Zimmerman will be displaying their work at “Harvest of Quilts”, sponsored by the Shoreline Quilters Guild

The exhibition of quilts will be on display at East Haven High School on October 17th and 18th, and will include demonstrations, quilt/craft boutique, food court and quilt raffle.  

Sisters in Cloth will also be exhibiting 14 art quilts from the group’s Green Challenge.   This collection of quilts will travel there to be a part of a combined exhibition.  The challenge posed was to create an art quilt no larger than 30" on any side inspired by the word "Green".

(image: Metropolis by Gail Kotowski)  Members of Sisters who participated in the challenge and are also SAQA members include:  Gail Kotowski, Barbara Coleman Adams,  Linda Zimmerman, Diane M. Wright, Ruth Anne Olson, Carol Ludington, Yvette Howard and Vivika Hansen DeNegre.

Admission is $8.  East Haven High School is located at 35 Wheelbarrow Lane / East Haven, CT 06512.  For more information, call (203) 488-7946 or visit the Shoreline Quilters Guild website.

 

Martha Sielman Lecture at Stowe Elementary School (Enfield, CT)

Martha will speak about the artists and work contained in her book “Masters: Art Quilts” on Wednesday, October 21st, 7:00 –9:00pm

Stowe Elementary School, 117 Post Office Road, Enfield, CT

http://www.enfieldquilters.com/home.asp

 

 

 

SCAN’s Fall Art Show & Sale – (Newtown, CT)

Jennifer O'Brien is one of the few fiber artists in SCAN’s Fall Art Show & Sale, October 23rd – 25th in Newtown, CT.

SCAN is located at the Newtown Meeting House, Main Street at the Flag Pole, Newtown CT 06470.  The show will be on display from 10:00am – 5:00pm each day.

 

Art Quilts XIV: Significant Stitching at the Chandler Art Center (Chandler, AZ)

Norma Schlager’s “No Elephants Here” has been accepted into Art Quilts XIV: Significant Stitching at the Chandler Art Center in Chandler, Arizona.  The show runs from November 2nd – January 2nd.  Exhibition Hall Hours are Monday-Friday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm / Saturdays: Noon - 5:00 pm.  Admission is Free

Chandler Center for the Arts
250 North Arizona Avenue
Chandler, AZ 85225
info@chandlercenter.org

 

Trois Palettes at the Gertrude G. White Gallery (Greenwich, CT)

Mayann Weinberg will be participating in “Trois Palettes”, a collection of stitched and painted canvas, fiber and silk by three artists.  Mayann’s work will be displayed along with work by Gay Lynette Morris and Roisin Reilly.  The show runs from November 2nd -  28th,  2009 at the Gertrude G. White Gallery, located at:

Greenwich YWCA / 259 East Putnam Avenue / Greenwich, CT  06830

Opening Cocktail Reception: Friday, November 13, 2009 / 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Gallery Hours are Mon - Fri  7:30 am – 10:00 pm / Sat.  7:30 am -  5:00 pm

 

GOING ON NOW:

Gray Plus One, sponsored by Scrapbag Art Quilters (Newtown, CT)

SAQA CT members Norma Schlager, Nike Cutsumpas, Barbara Drillick and Carolyn Cooney are among the artists displaying work in this show which runs from September 11th – October 23rd.

The Gray plus One exhibition, sponsored by Scrapbag Art Quilters, opens Friday September 11th at the Cyrenius H. Booth Library in Newtown, CT.  The exhibit, “Gray Plus One…,” challenges members to use only one color in addition to grays in each of their works.   Scrapbag members are accomplished quilt artists who meet weekly to share ideas, techniques and to critique their works. Most of them live in northern Fairfield County.  (image: Nike Cutsumpas’ “Spinning into Place”)

Cyrenius H Booth Library is located at 25 Main Street / Newtown, CT 06470.  For more information call (203) 426-4533.

Kindred Spirits / Friends for Life: Tolland County Art Association (Tolland, CT)

Artists Catherine Smith and Barbara Lussier have teamed up for an interesting and unique exhibition.  Kindred Spirits,  presented by the Tolland County Art Association, will display complimentary works by two artists and friends: Quilt Art by Cathy Smith and Paintings by Barbara Lussier.   

Tolland County Art Association / 22 Tolland Green / Tolland, CT  (860) 871-7405

Gallery is open Saturdays, 12:00 – 4:00 pm  (The Kindred Spirits Show runs October 3rd – October 31st)   (image: Drilling for Oil by Cathy Smith

 

 

85th Annual Open Juried Exhibit, sponsored by Gallery 53 (Meriden, CT)

Cathy Smith’s art quilt Where’s Hillary? has won the “Best Craft” prize in the 85th Annual Open Juried Exhibit, sponsored by Gallery 53 – Arts & Crafts Association of Meriden, Inc. 

This and other works of art and craft will be on display from October 4th – November 14th.   Gallery 53 is located at  53 Colony St. / Meriden, CT 06451 / (203) 235-5347

(image, upper left: Cathy standing next to “Hillary” at the Opening Reception)

 

 

Fiber Snapshots at the Leever Atrium Gallery (Waterbury, CT)

Fiber Snapshots, a solo exhibition of quilted artwork by Kate Themel, will be on display at the Leever Atrium Gallery at Naugatuck Valley Community College (NVCC)  September 25th – November 20th, 2009.  A gallery talk is scheduled for November 19th 11:00am – 1:35pm, followed by a reception.

NVCC is located at 750 Chase Parkway / Waterbury CT

(image: Just for the Fun of It)

Cathy Smith Earns a Prize at Gallery 53

Cathy Smith’s art quilt Where’s Hillary? has won the “Best Craft” prize in the 85th Annual Open Juried Exhibit, sponsored by Gallery 53 – Arts & Crafts Association of Meriden, Inc.  This and other works of art and craft will be on display from October 4th – November 14th.   Gallery 53 is located at  53 Colony St. / Meriden, CT 06451 / (203) 235-5347

(image, upper left: Cathy standing next to “Hillary” at the Opening Reception)

 

 

 

 

(image, lower left: Detail of Where’s Hillary? by Cathy Smith)

Meet Cathy Smith, SAQA CT’s Artist of the Month

“I believe that visual images – patterns, shapes, lines are expressed subconsciously in my art. I approach my work in fiber with the understanding that I am in the process of discovery. Once I am “into” a quilt composition I disappear into the many relationships that are possible”.   Catherine Whall Smith

Re-entering her world of quilts after a long period of work in the field of Education – Catherine Smith is foremost a quilter – living in Chaplin, CT.  At this time she designs her quilts through the process of discovery. Discovery of the relationships of fabric, pattern, color, and a limited variety of shapes.

(image: Circles series)

Recently, I had the privilege of interviewing Cathy Smith, artistic explorer and intuitive quilter.  She graciously answered my questions about her life, work and creative goals.  Here is a glimpse into the mind of your colleague and fellow Nutmeg artist, Cathy Whall Smith.  ~Kate Themel 

In Her Own Words

How long have you been quilting?

Forever!!!!! - No really, I've sewed all my life but didn't get into quilting until the mid 1970's.

 

How did you get into non-traditional quilting?

It seemed to be immediate – after completing one traditional quilt “Bear Paws” – I was off creating my own statements.

 

What are your goals?

My goals include recognition as an artist that uses fiber as her medium of expression. Gallery representation and being juried into major art shows are always important. Foremost making a statement that connects to the viewer is the ultimate goal - “in my mind true art is a dialogue between the artist and the viewer”.

 

What life experiences & skills do you feel you bring into your artwork?

October 1^st , which is the start of the “Artist of the Month” blog just happens to be my 64^th birthday – so I would say that having a very full life – family, friends, many passions, and being a Libra explains my patience and balanced personality that keeps me focused and moving toward my goals, while living in the moment.

 

How would you describe your artistic style?

Very abstract and minimal

(image: Drilling for Oil)

What are you trying to portray with your art (at the moment)?

Presently I am exploring the visual space that is created with simple shapes – my favorite shape is the line.

 

What/Who inspires you?

Life and to name a few, the art of:

- Edouard Vuillard – his shapes, color, and pattern combinations

- Milton Avery – his simple shapes

- Pierre Bonnard – his saturated colors and the use of whites

- Rothko – his simplicity but yet complexity of colors

- Barbara Hepworth – her strong sculptures of the 1960's

- and of course Nancy Crow's work that endures forever

 (image: Abstract Apples, Green Worms)

Where do you do most of your artwork?

At the moment my home studio works for me – but I can imagine the need for a larger space in the future.

 

Have you made missteps along your artistic journey, and what did you learn from the experience?

Even though I pursued a career in education for many years, I always knew that I would eventually return full time to creating art quilts. My career used my organizational talents – and gave me the financial security that now allows me to pursue my art.

 

What are you most proud of when it comes to your artwork?

Most people love my use of color sometimes my unexpected combinations really connect to the viewer.

 

Which do you enjoy the more: the process or the results?

Definitely the process – the process drives me to continue to work on a daily basis.

 

Where can people see your work?

October 2009:

Tolland Art Center – 22 Tolland Green, Tolland Green - “Kindred Spirits” dual show

Painting by Barbara Lussier / Art Quilts by Catherine Smith

Read more about the show in the Hartford Courant 

(image: Cathy standing between her quilt Yellow #1 and a landscape by Barbara Lussier, at the Tolland Art Center)

 

 

December 2009:

Open Studio “SMITHSTITCH” – 44 Chaplin Street / Chaplin, Connecticut

Participating in the Artist Open Studio of Northeast Connecticut Tour on Saturday, December 5^th and

Sunday, December 6^th, 2009.

Thank you Cathy, for taking the time to share your thoughts and provide an insight into your creative process.